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ETF Campaign on Working Time Directive for Mobile Personnel in Road Transport

25 February 2009

Say No to 84-86 Hour Work Weeks!
ETF Demonstration Against the Exclusion of Self-Employed Drivers from the Revised Sectoral Working Time Directive.

The European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) will hold a demonstration in Brussels on March 2nd 2009 to protest against the proposed revision of Directive 2002/15/EC which, if approved, would exclude self-employed drivers from the sectoral working time directive. The demonstration coincides with a key vote taking place within the Employment Committee of the European Parliament on the same day. If approved, the revised Directive could have lasting repercussions on both the drivers’ profession and on the public alike. Unions from throughout Europe will be descending upon Brussels to express their strong discontent.

If enacted, this controversial legislation could increase the potential workload of self-employed professional drivers to a maximum of 86 hours working time a week, every week of every month in every year! Thus, the drivers will have little time, if any, to recuperate between jaunts. This would result in the increased presence of overworked, fatigue filled drivers on European roads. Studies have established the strong link between fatigue and delayed reaction time, which can result in serious accidents. Tired drivers pose real threats to themselves and to innocent bystanders!

A yes vote on the proposed revision of Directive 2002/15/EC will compromise the integrity of the drivers’ profession while simultaneously putting thousands of Europeans at risk through the placement of overtired drivers on European roads.

When: Monday, March 2nd 2009 at 9:30 am
Where: Starting point in front of ETUC Headquarters, Bd. du Roi Albert II 5 ,
End point in front of the building of the European Council, Rue de la Loi 175 (at 11:30am)

For more information, please contact Cristina Tilling, Political Secretary for Road Transport, c.tilling@etf-europe.org (+32 (0)478 / 55 81 35) or Sarah Williams, Communication Officer, at s.williams@etf-europe.org (+32 (0)470 / 93 05 90)

The ETF represents more than 2.5 million transport workers from 223 transport unions and 40 European countries, in the following sectors: railways, road transport and logistics, maritime transport, inland navigation, civil aviation, ports & docks, tourism and fisheries.

ENDS

For more information please contact:

European Transport Workers' Federation
Rue du Marché aux Herbes 105, Boîte 11
B-1000 Bruxelles
Telephone: +32 (0)2 285 46 60
Fax: +32 (0)2 280 08 17
Email: etf@etf-europe.org

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